186 BARON WALCKENAEn ON THE INSECTS 



and says tliat it is smaller than the Centipede, and moves without making 

 sinuosities. Errors of this sort are common in this author. 



Numenius, cited by Athenaeus, calls the Julios the entrails of the earth. 

 Eustathius, commenting upon this passage, and Theon, a more ancient 

 author, give different reasons for this expression. 



Hesychius says that the Jonlos is like the Polypus, that it lives in 

 moist places, and that it is different from the Onos or Asellus. 



Lycophron applies the epithet of Juliopezos to a vessel propelled by 

 a great number of oars. 



From all these texts we gather the following particulars : that the 

 Julos or Julus was an apterous insect, or without wings, and furnished 

 with a great number of legs; that it rolls itself up immediately upon being 

 touched ; that it describes a curve or sinuosities in moving; that it con- 

 ceals itself in the earth ; that it is found in moist places; and lastly, that 

 Suidas alone informs us that this insect preys upon the vine. 



XIII. Biurus. — We now arrive at names applied by the Romans to in- 

 sects destructive to the vine, and we shall commence with a word which, 

 from its etymology, appears to have been derived from the Greek. 



The name of ^mr?w employed by Cicero to denote an insect injurious 

 to the vine is only known to us from a passage of Pliny the naturalist. 

 Speaking of different medical prescriptions, and several curious parti- 

 culars relative to the history of animals, he concludes a chapter with 

 these words : " Marcus Cicero says that there are insects, named Biuri, 

 which prey upon the vines in Campania." " M. Cicero tradit animalia 

 Biuros vocari qui vites in Campania erodant." 



It has been rightly remarked that this word is derived from the 

 Greek oura, and appears to be a synonym of Bicaudes, insects with 

 a double tail. This etymology deserves attention, as we learn from it 

 the only peculiarity by which this insect can be recognised. In the 

 most ancient manuscripts the word is written Biuros, and we should 

 reject the orthography of Byturos adopted by certain editors of Pliny, 

 This latter word has been employed by modern naturalists as the 

 name of a genus of Dermestes*, while they have neglected the true 

 orthography. 



XIV. Livolvolus, Involviilus, or Involvus. — The words which remain 

 to be noticed are purely Latin ; they have, if I may be allowed the ex- 

 pression, a family likeness, and appear to be derived from each other. 



We shall commence with the word which the most ancient author 

 has emploj'^ed, and which is that Avhicli has given occasion to this 

 memoir. 



Involvolus or Involvulus occurs in Plautus. 



In the Cistilliarius, act 1, scene 2, verses 455-i58, the slave Lampa- 



* See Latrcillc, in Cuvier's Re<ine Animal, vol. iv. p. 50G. [edit, of 1829.] 



